Dutch Colonial is a style of domestic architecture, primarily characterized by gambrel roofs having curved eaves along the length of the house. Modern versions built in the early 20th century are more accurately referred to as “Dutch Colonial Revival

What are the characteristics of a Dutch Colonial?

Here’s What, Exactly, Defines A Dutch Colonial House: The most notable feature of a Dutch Colonial house is its broad, double-pitched roof that slopes fairly flat and wide at the top and then changes angles and slopes almost straight down, often with narrow dormer windows integrated into the roofline.

Where are Dutch colonial houses most common?

The style they built in, now known as Dutch Colonial, was most prevalent in today’s New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania regions, but also appeared in Delaware and Connecticut. Whether New York or Pennsylvania is the original home of the style, however, is up for debate.

Why were Dutch Colonial homes built?

The original Dutch colonial houses were single room dwellings, so to create more living space, large porches were built on either side of the house beneath the lengthy eaves.

When were Dutch Colonial homes popular?

The term “Dutch Colonial” didn’t appear until the 20th Century, when Americans began to romanticize their colonial roots and brought back architecture from the original settlers. Dutch Colonials were hugely popular in the 1920s and 30s, primarily in the regions where Dutch colonizers had originally settled.

What is a Dutch house called?

For most Dutch people, a townhouse is the standard. These residences are built in a continuous block so that the houses share outer walls. A pair of houses might be called townhouses.

What does Dutch built mean?

belonging to Holland or its people—in old writers rather applied to the Germans: heavy, clumsy, as in Dutch-built, -buttocked, &c.

How would you describe Dutch architecture?

Civic buildings and palaces were the focus of Dutch Baroque architecture. Constructions were sober and austere and the main characteristics were the use of brick for the exterior, and noble materials for the interior. Buildings were symmetrical, and classical references were present.

Who is Dutch Colonial?

The Dutch colonial empire (Dutch: Nederlandse koloniale rijk) comprised the overseas territories and trading posts controlled and administered by Dutch chartered companies—mainly the Dutch West India Company and the Dutch East India Company—and subsequently by the Dutch Republic (1581–1795), and by the modern Kingdom …

Who invented Dutch style architecture?

The first one you see is Jacob van Campen, the architect of the Royal Palace and the founding father of Dutch Classicism. The last one is Hendrick de Keyser, who created his own style: the 16th century Amsterdam Renaissance Style.

Article first time published on

What is a colonial roof?

A typical colonial home has two stories, consists of a wooden or stone exterior, has one or more fireplaces, and a roof most often made from natural materials. … A typical colonial home has two stories, consists of a wooden or stone exterior, has one or more fireplaces, and a roof most often made from natural materials.

What is a gambrel colonial?

The Gambrel features the typical two-sided roof but with two slopes on each side; the upper slope is positioned at a shallow angle, while the lower slope is steep. … The Gambrel is one of the prettiest and most varied vernacular house styles built.

What is a colonial style home?

Colonial Home Colonial houses are built in a traditional style of architecture that dates back to the U.S. Colonial era. They are designed to comfortably serve as a family home, and typically feature a rectangular shape with gabled roofs, symmetrical windows, neutral color schemes, and flat exterior walls.

When was Dutch architecture created?

Dutch architecture has played an important role in the international discourse on architecture in three eras. The first of these was during the 17th century, when the Dutch empire was at the height of its power. The second was in the first half of the 20th century, during development of modernism.

When was the Colonial Revival period?

Colonial Revival Style 1880s – 1940s. The Colonial Revival style, one of the most popular and enduring styles in America, was fueled by the country’s interest in its own history.

Why do Dutch bedrooms have sinks?

In the old days, sinks were often in the bedrooms because showers were not in your typical dutch apartment until about 50 years ago! In some unfurnished or shell apartments, there are no light fixtures installed before the tenant moves into the apartment.

Why are Dutch walls so thin?

Older homes and buildings in Holland are extremely narrow. This is a result of the way taxes were assessed back in the 1700’s-1800’s. Back then, homes and buildings were taxed based on how much sidewalk space they took up (i.e. their width).

What is a Dutch oven slang?

In cooking, a Dutch oven is a type of heavy pot with a lid. But in slang, a Dutch oven is when you pass gas in bed and pull the covers over someone else’s head, trapping it in like a Dutch oven traps heat.

Do Dutch houses have basements?

A canal house (Dutch: grachtenpand ) is a (usually old) house overlooking a canal. These houses are often slim, high and deep. … Canal houses usually had a basement and a loft and attic where trade goods could be stored.

Why do Dutch houses have big windows?

Because the houses were narrow, and people still needed space to live, they would also be deep. In Dutch we call this a “pijpelade” (pipe drawer). If you want light to reach deep into your house, you need big windows. Anything blocking that light will mean a large part of your house will be dark.

Why are Dutch buildings narrow?

Houses in Amsterdam are very narrow because in Medieval times owners would have to pay for the meter of the facade facing the canals. To avoid paying such high taxes, houses were designed to be narrow yet tall and functional. These buildings tend to be narrow, leaning forward and facing the water.

Do the Dutch still have colonies?

The Dutch Empire today comprises of several overseas colonies, outposts, and enclaves that were administered and controlled by the Dutch Chartered companies such as the Dutch East Indian Company and the Dutch West India, and eventually by the Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Where did the Dutch colonize in the Americas?

New Netherland was the first Dutch colony in North America. It extended from Albany, New York, in the north to Delaware in the south and encompassed parts of what are now the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Delaware.

What islands do the Dutch own?

There are three Caribbean islands that are countries (Dutch: landen) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. The Netherlands is the fourth and largest constituent country in the Kingdom. Sint Maarten comprises the southern half of the island of Saint Martin.

What is the Dutch style?

“Going Dutch” (sometimes written with lower-case dutch) is a term that indicates that each person participating in a paid activity covers their own expenses, rather than any one person in the group defraying the cost for the entire group.

What is Dutch interior design?

Minimalist, experimental, innovative, functional, unconventional and with a sense of humor – this is how Dutch design is usually described. Dutch interior designers strive to strike a balance between great function and beautiful style. … Like their Scandinavian counterparts, Dutch designers make the most of nature.

What defines baroque architecture?

Baroque architecture is a highly opulent style of building, design, and art that originated in Italy during the 17th century and spread to the rest of Europe, and eventually, the U.S. It’s characterized by extremely detailed forms, marble, large-scale decoration, and bright colors.

How many stories do Dutch houses have?

To many, the Dutch Revival house is the perfect middle-class suburban home. It’s an efficient design, with two stories of living space neatly packaged into a modified one-story house. It’s more modest than the Georgian Revival house, but the second floor is more spacious than that of the Bungalow or the Cape Cod house.

What is Louis Sullivan known for?

Louis Sullivan, in full Louis Henry Sullivan, (born September 3, 1856, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.—died April 14, 1924, Chicago, Illinois), American architect, regarded as the spiritual father of modern American architecture and identified with the aesthetics of early skyscraper design.

What's left of New York's Dutch past?

New Amsterdam was renamed centuries ago, and the hills and copses once known as New Netherland – the short-lived, 17th-Century Dutch colony in North America – now lope gently through a stretch of the US states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut.

What type of roof does a Colonial house have?

Colonial Revival homes tend to feature hipped, gambrel or gable roofs. As this style is imitating Colonial-era architecture, wood shingles are the most appropriate roofing material.